THE ROLE Of CHRISTIAN WOMEN—1Timothy 2:9-15
This sermon was very well received. One woman commented that I was ‘ballsy’ for preaching this. She also stated that her mother(were she a church-goer) would not have stood for it.
Attention:
Movie/Broadway presentation—requires that each participant(actor) play a specific role.
Need:
A woman may ask...In the Christian community, how do I apply myself? What is the work I am to do? How do I honor God?
Secular American society attempts to blur the gender relationships that God has created. And in Christian circles there seems to be some disparity about the same thing.
I observe on the one hand, that men & women are accepted as complete equals at home & in the workplace.
However, I also observe, the reality that men & women are so very different in every aspect as to be completely incompatible with one another.
Paul explained to Timothy the proper role of Christian women as essential to the function of the church.
The Christian community must embrace/recognize the proper role of godly women.
Christians must embrace/recognize the proper role/responsibilities of godly women.
What delineates/defines the role of a Christian woman?
How is the role of a Christian woman delineated/discovered?
3 standards of responsibility for Christian women.
1—Responsibility for Christian women is found in her...
Standard for APPEARANCE(:9-10)
Explanation: (:9-10)Presentation
:9—“in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety & moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing,”
“In like manner”—In an adorning “manner” that is akin to that of the men in worship, the women are to also present themselves in a manner which best suits them(their design & role) in God’s eyes.
A woman’s physical “adornment” is comparable & complementary to the men of the church praying with holy hands untouched by wrath or doubting(:8).
A woman’s attention to physical appearance—particularly in a public Christian assembly—is an important consideration.
In our culture as well as Paul’s, women have a tendency to measure themselves by their outward beauty. Their “adornment” &/or accessories(Purses/Pocketbooks/Shoes/Necklaces/Bracelets/Ribbons/Bows/ornate Pins/Brooches) becomes their worth to both themselves & others.
These say something of how a woman is cared for by another/others & thus a woman can fall into the trap of allowing these things to determine her worth. It says much about her personal priorities.
It is interesting that men use ‘accessories’ to make basic tools more versatile. Men who are overly concerned with their outward appearance(Hair, Beard, Hat, Shirt, Pants & Shoe design, etc.) are no longer considered ‘girly men’(per Arnold Schwarzeneggar) but mainstream. It is unbecoming for a Christian man to see himself in such a light, just as it also is for a Christian woman.
Teen boys may have a tendency to ‘accessorize’ their vehicles merely to fulfill their own liking. Example—A lift-kit for a truck that never goes off-road or works.
A Christian woman is cautioned to pay attention to the way in which she presents herself to others, particularly in worship. This is exemplified in the godly attention to & arrangement of her dress/attire.
A Christian woman should dress in a “modest” & thus unassuming manner that mimic’s a personal spirit surrendered to God’s Holy Spirit. *Governing qualities for such a godly outward arrangement are... “propriety” & “moderation.”
These qualities encompass 1)A character that is fearful of doing something shameful 2)as well as A character fueled by personal sanity, soundness of mind & thus self-control.
Godly character can be subverted, undermined or hidden by overt attention/attractions centered in worldliness. Such worldly attentivenesses may be exemplified in something so seemingly innocuous as one’s hairstyle—which can demonstrate pride & self-centeredness.
—Look at the preponderance of hair salons & the lengths people go to in order to be different or call attention to themselves.
Women get weaves, people with curls relax their hair, people with straight hair curl their hair. They color their hair. They add highlights to their hair. Not saying that all of them are...but These CAN become examples of how Christians have been influenced by the world rather than by Christ!
“Gold or pearls” appears to be a category of excessive accessorization—Purses/Pocketbooks/Shoes/Necklaces/Bracelets/Ribbons/Bows/Brooches, etc. These too can be worldly & unbecoming to Christ & Christian women.
“Costly clothing” is an excessive expenditure for one’s clothing. This very thing is seen in the prevalence of open brand-name wearing(Coach/Prada/Vera Bradley/Hollister/Heuer/Dooney & Burke).
“Like manner/Likewise”—wsautwv—Adv.—In like manner. Strong—As thus, i.e. In the same way Used 17X.
“Women”[See :10, 11, 12]—gunh—1)A woman of any age, whether a virgin, or married, or a widow; 2)A wife—2a)Of a betrothed woman. Strong—A woman; specially--A wife.
“Adorn”—kosmew—V.—To put in order, arrange, make ready, prepare; 2) To ornament, adore; 3) Metaph. to embellish with honor, gain honor. Strong—To put in proper order, i.e. Decorate (literally or figuratively); specially--To snuff (a wick). used 10X.
English—‘Cosmetics’
“Modest/Proper/Seemly”—kosmiov—Adj.—Well arranged. seemly, modest. Strong—Orderly, i.e. Decorous. Used 2X.
“Apparel/Clothing/Guise”—katastolh—A lowering, letting down; 2) A garment let down, dress, attire. From the verb—katastellw—To send or put down, to lower; 2) To put or keep down one who is roused or incensed, to repress, restrain, appease, quiet. From—stolh—Any stately robe, ordinarily long, reaching to the feet or sweeping the ground, often worn by women.
“Propriety/Shamefacedness/Modestly/Decency”—aidwv—A sense of shame or honor, modesty, bashfulness, reverence, regard for others, respect. The feeling of innate moral repugnance to doing a dishonorable act. Aidwv is the fear of doing a shameful thing, aiscunh is chiefly the fear of being found out. Aidwv would always restrain a good man from an unworthy act, while aiscunh might sometimes restrain a bad one" (Trench). Strong—perhaps from a(as a negative particle) & eidw(through the idea of downcast eyes). Bashfulness, i.e. (towards men), modesty or (towards God) Awe. Used 2X.
“Moderation/Sobriety/Discreetly/Propriety”(See :15—“Self-control”)—swfrosunh—1)Soundness of mind; 2)Self-control, sobriety. Strong—Soundness of mind, i.e. literally--Sanity or figuratively--Self-control Used 3X. In Acts 26:25—“Reason”
“Braided hair/Broided hair/Plaitings”—plegma— 1) What is woven, plaited, or twisted together; 2) A web, plait, braid, 2a) Of a net, 2b) Of a basket, in which the infant Moses was laid, 2c) Of braided hair. Strong—A plait (of hair). Used 1X.
“Gold”—crusov—1) Precious things made of gold, golden ornaments—1a)An image made of gold, 1b) stamped gold, gold coin. Strong—Gold; by extension--A golden article, as an ornament or coin. BAGD—1)Gold, both that which lies imbedded in the earth & is dug out of it; 2) That which has been smelted & wrought.
“Pearls”—margarithv—1)A pearl, 2)A proverb, i.e., A word of great value.
“Costly”—polutelhv—Adj.—1)Precious—1a)Requiring very great outlay, very costly, 1b) Excellent, of surpassing value. Strong—Extremely expensive. Used 3X.
“Clothing”—imatismov—N, m.—1)Clothing, apparel. Does not denote a specific garment, but means clothing, being used, however, ordinarily only of garments more or less stately or costly. In a more specific use, however, it denotes the large loose outer garment, a cloak, which ordinarily was worn, but in working was laid aside.
:10—“but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works.”
“But”—Rather than giving undue attention to hairstyle, jewelry & clothing, women who openly declare their allegiance to God in Christ, adorn themselves “modestly” “with propriety & moderation”(:9) as is only right for them to do.
Such “modesty/self-control” is only one aspect of a godly woman’s commitment. One’s presentation must not be limited to appearance only but will be coupled with “good works.” That is, a truly godly woman will be a worker or doer of what God considers “good.” She will be a person who pleases God with her every action—including her dress & demeanor.
“Proper/Becometh/Befits/Appropriate”—prepw—To stand out, to be conspicuous, to be eminent; 2) to be becoming, seemly, fit.
“Women”[See :9, 11, 12]—gunh—1)A woman of any age, whether a virgin, or married, or a widow; 2)A wife—2a)Of a betrothed woman. Strong—A woman; specially--A wife.
“Professing”—epaggellw—V.—To announce that one is about to do or furnish something—1a) To promise(of one’s own accord) to engage voluntarily; 2) To profess—2a) An art, to profess one’s skill in something. Strong—To announce upon--reflexively, i.e. by implication--To engage to do something, to assert something respecting oneself. Used 15X.
“Godliness”—yeosebeia—N. f.—Reverence towards God’s goodness. Strong—Devoutness, i.e. piety. Used 1X.
“Good”—agayov—Of good constitution or nature; 2) Useful, salutary; 3) Good, pleasant, agreeable, joyful, happy; 4) Excellent, distinguished; 5) Upright, honorable.
“Works/Deeds”—ergon—1) Business, employment, that which any one is occupied—1a) That which one undertakes to do, enterprise, undertaking; 2) Any product whatever, any thing accomplished by hand, art, industry, or mind; 3) An act, deed, thing done: the idea of working is emphasized in opp. to that which is less than work. Strong—Toil(as an effort or occupation); by implication--An act.
Argumentation:
1Pet. 3:1-4—“Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. Do not let your adornment be merely outward--arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel-- rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle & quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.”
Rom. 12:2—“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good & acceptable & perfect will of God.”
Js. 2:14-17, 26—“What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked & destitute of daily food, & one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed & filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”.....“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”
Gal. 5:22-23—“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”
Ps. 25:9—“The humble He guides in justice, And the humble He teaches His way.”
Illustration:
Fellowship meal/Never placed in a brown bag & placed in hand as we exit the building for our cars!/Misses the point of fellowship entirely/Standard for APPEARANCE
A former church of mine/Small rural family-run church/We had a young woman who occasionally wore spaghetti straps in the choir/I always got comments from the congregation/Standard for APPEARANCE
A person with a ‘band-shirt’(Hollister, Old Navy, Tommy Hilfiger, etc.) to worship/Call attention to things rather than to the God who is worthy of our worship/Standard for APPEARANCE
Food is presented differently during special events than is usually done at home/Standard for APPEARANCE
Application:
?What is your Standard for APPEARANCE?
?What are the Standards of Responsibility?
2—A Responsibility of Christian women is found in her...
Standard for SUBMISSION(:11-14)
Explanation: (:11-12, 13-14)
:11—“Let a woman learn in silence with all submission.”
Could these verses possibly be more controversial to an egalitarian society such as ours(& most others)?
**Taken wrongly, this verse presents Paul as an archaic, chauvanistic, prejudiced, woman-hater(misogynist), who wanted to ‘put women in their place.‘
—However the reality is that such a characterization is absolutely unwarranted, is entirely worldly, societally driven & thus blasphemous. If a person reverts to such belief they cannot & will not be sold-out to God in Christ.
**Likewise...If Paul is relegated to archaic & limited, personal prejudicial ramblings then the authority of Scripture itself comes into question!**
**Scripture too becomes archaic & limited to mere history on a par with any other historical writer & their prejudices & limitations. However, Scripture should be seen for what it really is—an objectively true historical account of universal truth & thus applicable to all generations. Societal histories can be seen in Scripture because it is accurate history.
—If you claim Christ as your Savior, you must wrestle with the facts regardless of what the culture tells you. Yet we must also regard worldly/secular interpretations of Scripture(no matter how distorted & strange) in order to engage & reach them with the Gospel. These practices help the Christian to be better attuned to the utter practicality of God’s truth, & are thereby faith builders.
*The typical Jewish relationship of the time(not necessarily biblical) was that women were not actively sought out for learning God’s truth. It was strictly for men. This was also true in pagan Greek societies (Ref. John MacArthur—1Timothy).
It was the prerogative of a woman to maintain the proper functioning of the household(children, sustenance), while a man’s was to provide opportunities for such maintenance both physically & spiritually.
Paul is commanding(“Let”) Timothy that the women be allowed to learn...that they be actively taught—A truly phenomenal unprecedented/novel/unorthodox/unconventional/innovative & controversial idea.
*The “learning” of a Christian woman is to be undertaken within a particular attitudinal context & spirit. Such a spirit is driven & couched within the same “manner” as is her public presentation(:9-10).
The Christian woman is ‘the complete package’ of godliness as a learner from adult men rather than a teacher of them.
As such a learner she is to maintain a personal stillness borne of godly “submission” to the teaching of godly, prayerful men.
Silence:
Acts 21:39- 22:2—“But Paul said, “I am a Jew from Tarsus, in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city; & I implore you, permit me to speak to the people.” So when he had given him permission, Paul stood on the stairs & motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great silence(sigh), he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, saying, “Brethren & fathers, hear my defense before you now.” And when they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they kept all the more silent(hsucia). Then he said:”
2Thes. 3:10-13—“For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. Now those who are such we command & exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness(hsucia) & eat their own bread. But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good.”
1Cor. 14:26-37—“How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, & let one interpret. But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent(sigaw) in church, & let him speak to himself & to God. Let two or three prophets speak, & let the others judge. But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent(sigaw). For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn & all may be encouraged. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. Let your women keep silent(sigaw) in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church. Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached? If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord.”
Submission:
2Cor. 9:12 -14—“For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience(upotagh) of your confession to the gospel of Christ, & for your liberal sharing with them & all men, & by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you.”
Gal. 2:2-5—“And I went up by revelation, & communicated to them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those who were of reputation, lest by any means I might run, or had run, in vain. Yet not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage), to whom we did not yield submission(upotagh) even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.”
“Women”[See :9, 11, 12]—gunh—1)A woman of any age, whether a virgin, or married, or a widow; 2)A wife—2a)Of a betrothed woman. Strong—A woman; specially--A wife.
“Learn”—manyanw—V.—1)To learn or be appraised—1a)To increase one’s knowledge, to be increased in knowledge—1b) To hear, be informed, 1c) To learn by use & practice—1c1)To be in the habit of, accustomed to. Strong—To learn (in any way). Used 25X.
“Silence”(See :12)—hsucia—N. f.—Quietness —Description of the life of one who stays at home doing his own work, & does not officiously meddle with the affairs of others; 2) Silence. Strong—as noun--Stillness, i.e. Desistance from bustle or language. Used 4X.
Feminine of hsuciov—Adj.— properly--Keeping one’s seat (sedentary), i.e. by implication--Still(undisturbed, undisturbing). a prolonged form of a compound probably of a derivative of the base of edraiov(Sit, sedentary, immovable) & perhaps ecw(To hold —used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote).
*Acts 21:40 & 1Cor. 14:28, 30, 34-35—
“Silent”—sigaw—1) To keep silence, hold one’s peace; 2) To be kept in silence, be concealed. Describes a mental condition & its manifestation, esp. in speechlessness(silence from fear, grief, awe, etc.). Strong—To keep silent (transitively or intransitively). Used 9X.
“Shameful”—aiscron—N. n.—1) Shame, base, dishonourable. Strong—A shameful thing, i.e. Indecorum Used 3X.
“Submission”—upotagh—N. f.—1)The act of subjecting; 2)Obedience, subjection. Strong—Subordination.
From—upotassw—V.—To subordinate; reflexively--To obey. Used 4X.
:12—“And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence.”
“Teaching” involves “official doctrinal instruction in the Scriptures” relegated to the pastor-teacher.
Paul is very adamant that he(as an apostle of God) “does not” approve of(or transfer) abdicating the role of Christian ‘teacher’ to Christian women. This is a job for Christian men only. The authority & rationale behind such a statement is stated in :13-15. The significance of role in Christian teaching has relevance particularly in respect to its nature in relation to the learning of men.
This says much about our children & their maturity. If they reach their upper teens & do not transfer out of the teen’s class to an adult class they have failed to realize the necessity of maturity.
If a Christian woman who sees fit to teach men(in a worship situation), is thereby exercising “authority over” those men. Such “authority” intended for godly men has been usurped & she has thus violated her God-ordained trust.
*Likewise a man being so taught(by a woman) has abdicated his authority(against God’s will) to the woman, & an errant one at that!
Again(:11) Paul states that the truly godly woman is to present herself in a fashion that takes seriously both roles...the action most becoming to her role is “to be in silence(:11).” This does not mean that she is to never speak in the church, but rather that she is to be respectful of God-ordained authority, which He has placed upon men. This order & role was initiated at creation(:13-14). Such roles demand respect for both God & His design for men & women.
“Women may have the gift of prophecy...but they are normally not to prophesy in the meetings of the church where [qualified]men are present.”.....“God does not violate His principles for the sake of expediency.”.....**“God established the principle of male authority & female submission for the purpose of order & complementation.”**—John MacArthur— 1Corinthians
“In the context of...worship, then, women are to be silent & content in the role of the learner.”—John MacArthur— 1Timothy
*1Cor. 14:31-40—“For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn & all may be encouraged. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church. Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached? If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant. Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, & do not forbid to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently & in order.”
These admonitions were spoken in the context of an abuse of the spiritual gift of tongues.
*Eph. 5:22-33—“Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; & He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church & gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify & cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy & without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes & cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh & of His bones. “For this reason a man shall leave his father & mother & be joined to his wife, & the two shall become one flesh.” This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ & the church. Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, & let the wife see that she respects her husband.”
“Permit”—epitrepw—V.—To turn to, transfer, commit, instruct; 2) To permit, allow, give leave. Strong—To turn over(transfer), i.e. Allow. Used 19X.
“Woman”(See :9, 10, 11 & 3:11—[“wives”])—gunh—A woman of any age, whether a virgin, or married, or a widow; A wife—Of a betrothed woman. Strong—a woman; specially, a wife.
“Teach”—didaskw—To teach; To teach one.
“Have authority over/Usurp authority over/Exercise autohrity over”[See :2—uperoch]—auyentew—One who with his own hands kills another or himself; 2) One who acts on his own authority, autocratic; 3) An absolute master; 4) To govern, exercise dominion over one. Strong—To act of oneself, i.e. figuratively--Dominate.
“Man”(See :8)—anhr—With reference to sex; of a male, husband, or betrothed or future husband; With reference to age, & to distinguish an adult man from a boy; Any male; Used generically of a group of both men & women. Strong—a primary word [compare anyrwpov]; A man (properly as an individual male).
“Be/Remain”—einai—To be, exist, to happen, to be present. Strong—To exist.
“Silence”(See :11)—hsucia—1) Quietness—1a) Description of the life of one who stays at home doing his own work, & does not officiously meddle with the affairs of others; 2) Silence. Strong—(as noun) Stillness, i.e. Desistance from bustle or language.
:13—“For Adam was formed first, then Eve.”
*Here(:13), Paul gives the 1st of two very clear reasons that a woman is not to “teach” or exercise “authority over a man”(:12).
**They are both grounded in the events surrounding creation.**
The 1st of these reasons is the fact that Adam was “formed” from the dust of the ground(Gen. 2:7) prior to God’s forming woman from the rib/side of the man. In fact, God placed the newly formed man(Adam) in the Garden of Eden with design “to tend & keep it” before the woman had even come on the scene(Gen. 2:8, 15).
Also prior to the woman’s being made, Adam’s certain authority over the animals is obvious in his naming them, which authority is extended even to his naming the woman(Eve) which God had given him(Gen. 3:20).
*The original order of formation is thus vitally important(yet much maligned in certain societies) for determining/assigning role-by-gender among Christians. Hereby it is implied that there was a method to God’s creative order regarding mankind. It is also implied that man’s commanded fruitfulness is never considered singly apart from the woman(:15).
*Man’s formation apart from the woman is a definitive statement to man’s role as the head of human relationships. His headship is to be held within the confines of love(Eph. 5:25-28, 33) as governed by God.
Likewise, woman’s formation “out of man”(Gen. 2:23) is a statement of her role as answerable/submissive to her husband, out of respect(Eph. 5:22-24, 33).
Both are formed to be one flesh in order that they may properly complement one another(Gen. 2:18, 24-25; Mat. 19:4-6).
**1Cor. 11:3-12—“But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, & the head of Christ is God. Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head. But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one & the same as if her head were shaved. For if a woman is not covered, let her also be shorn. But if it is shameful for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be covered. For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since he is the image & glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. For man is not from woman, but woman from man. Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man. For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels[Perfect submission]. Nevertheless, neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord. For as woman came from man, even so man also comes through woman; but all things are from God.”
A part of man’s being the “glory of God” relates the fact that God has bestowed upon man the representation of God’s own authority & rulership, which man is to exact in godly love, mercy & grace.
The woman however is intended to act as ‘viceregent’ carrying out God’s will...in a sense only as approached thru the headship of man. **Without the Christian woman’s true & consistent submission to her design, God’s design quickly falls into the disrepair of sin.**
“Formed”—plassw—1) To form, mold (something from clay, wax, etc.)—1a) Used of a potter. A primary verb; To mold, i.e. Shape or fabricate. Used 2X. See Rom. 9:20.
:14—“And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.”
The statement of Eve’s punishment as dictated by her falling for the devil’s deception declares:
Gen. 3:16—“To the woman He said: “I will greatly multiply your sorrow & your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you.””
1st apostolic reason(:13) for a woman not to “teach” or exercise “authority over a man”(:12) is creation order.
2nd reason—is the fact that the man(Adam) “was not deceived.” Adam was indeed led astray from God’s will! However the nature of his failure/sin was due to compulsion by his wife(coersion rather than outright deception) & complement(See Adam’s response Gen. 3:11-12) rather than thru outright deception to which Eve succumbed(Gen. 3:1-6, 13). She fell thru the draw of an emotional charisma.
Eve not only was deceptively drawn away from God’s authoritative command but she was also deceptively drawn away from her husband’s God-ordained authority as she offered the fruit to Adam(Gen. 3:6).
“This is not to say that Adam was less culpable than Eve” or that Eve was somehow comparatively “defective.”—John MacArthur— 1Corinthians
**This is not a matter of inferiority vs. superiority or superiority vs. inferiority. It is rather about acceptance of ordained place/role!
By her very “nature,” “Eve was not suited” “to assume the position of ultimate responsibility” afforded by headship. “When she stepped out from under the protection & leadership of Adam, she was highly vulnerable & fell.”—John MacArthur— 1Timothy
“Since she was so easily deceived, she should not be trusted as a teacher.”—Ralph Earle in EBC
It must be concluded that had the serpent approached Adam alone he would not have fallen for such smooth/crafty & cunning conniving/scheming as did the woman. This concept is vital to our basic understanding of human nature in general, & particularly so within the framework of marriage & the church. Indeed Adam is cursed because he “heeded the voice of his wife” instead of that of His Creator(See 2:16-17; 3:6).
*It can thus be biblically concluded/reasoned that gender-based roles in Christian circles are to be applied universally & timelessly!
—This is why men(qualified) only are to hold the office of ‘pastor’(headship) within a church. This fact obviously plays into the manifold & various other headship/leadership positions both at church, home & work:
—As the majority of Southern Baptist churches combine the offices of elder & deacon, this plays into the gender limitation for those offices as well.
Due to the fact of such universal truth, it must also be said that due to these mandates, it is all-the-more imperative that we be very selective about the spiritual condition of our spouse-to-be!
—Ladies do you really want to dominated or led by love?(Eph. 5:25, 33)
—Gentlemen, do you really want reluctant obedience or respect?(Eph. 5:22, , 23, 33)
“Deceived”2X—apataw[TR, Byz.]—Aorist Passive Indicative followed by: 1st Aorist Passive Participle—1) To cheat, beguile, deceive. Strong—To cheat, i.e. Delude. Used 4/5X.
OR—(WH & MT)
“Deceived/Quite deceived”—exapataw[Maj.T]—1)To deceive. Strong—To seduce wholly.
“Fell into/Was/Became”—ginomai—1) To become, i.e. to come into existence, begin to be, receive being; 2) To become, i.e. to come to pass, happen—2a) of events; 3) To arise, appear in history, come upon the stage—3a) Of men appearing in public; 4) To be made, finished—4a) of miracles, To be performed, wrought; 5) To become, be made. Strong—a prolongation & middle voice form of a primary verb; To cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e. reflexively--To become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.).
“Transgression/A sinner”—parabasiv—1) A going over; 2) metaph. A disregarding, violating—2a) Of the Mosaic law, 2b) The breach of a definite, promulgated, ratified law, 2c) To create transgressions, i.e. that sins might take on the character of transgressions, & thereby the consciousness of sin be intensified & the desire for redemption be aroused. Strong—Violation. Used 7X.
Argumentation:
The following verses describing the need for variety of spiritual gifts are a reminder of the absolute NEED for hierarchical order demanding 1)Headship with its perfect complement of 2)Willful subordination(submissiveness).
1Cor. 12:12-25—“For as the body is one & has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--& have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; & our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.”
1Pet. 3:3-7—“Do not let your adornment be merely outward--arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel-- rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle & quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good & are not afraid with any terror. Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, & as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.”
*Sarah gave her husband the respect he needed & which God required.
Ps. 51:6—“Behold, You[God] desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.”
Mat. 23:25-26—““Woe to you, scribes & Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup & dish, but inside they are full of extortion & self-indulgence. “Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup & dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.”
Eph 4:1-3—“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness & gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
Illustration:
College-bound students shape-up in their Junior Senior years of High School because they want to be accepted in college/This is largely dependent on their high school Grade Point Average!/They Submit to the requirements & build their lives around that belief/Standard for SUBMISSION
SAT(Scholastic Aptitude Test)/Many college-bound students submit to it because they determined to do their best to make it to college/These submit to the SAT because that is the minimum requirement for determining fitness for college/Such students subscribe to the Standard for SUBMISSION
Likewise, Families suffer because neither male nor female Christian takes their role seriously!
I’ve heard it said that the neck turns the head!...BUT, though the neck turns the head, the neck is still not the head! Major detail—The head determines whether it will be turned by the neck.
If the various roles aren’t taken seriously then the body fails severely—ask anyone with a neuromuscular disease!
Application:
?What is your Standard for SUBMISSION?
?How is your Standard set?
?What are the Standards of Responsibility?
3—A Responsibility of Christian women is found in her...
Standard for FAMILY/Motherhood(:15)
Explanation: (:15)
:15—“Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, & holiness, with self-control.”
These gender-based role determinations may seem narrow & limiting particularly from a woman’s perspective that has been heavily influenced by an egalitarian culture.
This is especially so to those outside of Christian circles. However, a woman(& men) must be reminded that the blessing of maternity is entirely hers. Men are not meant to fulfill the role of motherhood.
*Motherhood is a need-based role which is much more than merely birthing a child. It encompasses the entirety of raising her children to adulthood in a godly home.
Thus mothers are to give themselves(& their homes) entirely to spiritual truth with such basic aspects of godly living as “faith,” “love,” “& holiness.’
These three aspects of godliness are to be wielded by the mother with “self-control” at the helm. Such godliness for the mother is her peculiar avenue of salvation.
“By means of begetting children & so fulfilling the design appointed for her thru acceptance of motherhood...she would be saved from becoming a prey to the social evils of the time...”—W. E. Vine per Ralph Earle in EBC
“Nevertheless/But/Notwithstanding”—de—Conj.—1) But, moreover, &, etc. Strong—a primary particle (adversative or continuative); But, &, etc.
“Saved/Preserved”[See :4]—swzw—Future Passive Indicative—1) To save, keep safe & sound, to rescue from danger or destruction. Strong—from a primary swv(contraction for obsolete saov, "safe"); To save, i.e. Deliver or protect (literally or figuratively).
“In/Through”—dia—1) Through—1) through—1a) Of place, 1b) Of time, 1c) Of means; 2) Through—2a) The ground or reason by which something is or is not done. Strong—a primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; Through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional).
“Childbearing/Bearing of children”—teknogonia—N. f.—1) Childbearing. Strong—Childbirth(parentage), i.e. by implication--Maternity (the performance of maternal duties). Used 1X. Actually “the childbearing”(thv teknogoniav) or rather ‘the bearing of children.’
From—teknogonew—V.—itself a compound From—teknon—A child (as produced)—&—ginomai—a primary verb; To cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e. (reflexively)--To become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.).
“Continue/Abide”—menw—1) To remain, abide—1a) in reference to place—1a1) To sojourn, tarry, 1a2) Not to depart—1a2a) To continue to be present, 1a2b) To be held, kept, continually, 1b) in reference to time—1b1) To continue to be, not to perish, to last, endure—1b1a) of persons, To survive, live, 1c) in reference to state or condition—1c1) To remain as one, not to become another or different; 2) To wait for, await one. Strong—a primary verb; To stay(in a given place, state, relation or expectancy).
“Faith”—pistiv—1) Conviction of the truth of anything, belief; in the NT of a conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God & divine things, generally with the included idea of trust & holy fervour born of faith & joined with it; 2) Fidelity, faithfulness.
“Love/Charity”—agaph—1) Brotherly love, affection, good will, love, benevolence; 2) Love feasts. Strong—Love, i.e. Affection or benevolence; specially(plural)--A love-feast.
“Holiness/Sanctity/Sanctification”—agiasmov—1) Consecration, purification; 2) The effect of consecration—2a) Sanctification of heart & life. Strong—properly, Purification, i.e. (the state) Purity; concretely(by Hebraism)--A purifier. Used 10X.
“Self-control/Sobriety/Self-restraint/Propriety”(See :9—“Moderation”)—swfrosunh—1) Soundness of mind; 2) Self-control, sobriety. Swfrosunh expresses positively that which aidwv(See :9—“Moderation”) expresses negatively. Strong—Soundness of mind, i.e. (literally)--Sanity or (figuratively)--Self-control Used 3X. In Acts 26:25—“Reason”
From—swfrwn—1) Of a sound mind, sane, in one’s senses; 2) Curbing one’s desires & impulses, self-controlled, temperate.—&—frhn—1) The midriff or diaphragm, the parts of the heart; 2) The mind—2a) The faculty of perceiving & judging.
Argumentation:
Titus 2:1-5—“But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things-- that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.”
Rom. 2:28 -29—“For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; & circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.”
Illustration:
Not since the 1890s had anyone been allowed to attempt crossing Niagra Falls on a high wire/Others have crossed the Niagara River itself, but never over the falls/But on Fri. June15, 2012, 33 yr. old Nik(olas) Wallenda became the first person to ever walk a high wire(2 in.) crossing the full 1800 ft. stretch from Goat Island at Niagra Falls in the U.S. to Table Rock over Horseshoe Falls into Canada/It took him 29 min. & 19 sec./During the feat, he continually thanked & praised Jesus/He had spent many months preparing for the event/It took an everyday Steady Continuance—one foot in front of the other—to complete the task.
—Likewise a woman cannot please God apart from an everyday steady continuance in God’s Standard for MOTHERHOOD
Application:
?What is your Standard for FAMILY/Motherhood?
?What are the Standards of Responsibility?
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
Actors on broadway.
Action:
The Responsibilities of Christian women are found in her...
1. Standard for APPEARANCE(:9-10)
2. Standard for SUBMISSION(:11-14)
3. Standard for FAMILY/Motherhood(:15)
Very well received. One woman commented that I was ‘ballsy’ for preaching this. She also stated that her mother(were she a church-goer) would not have stood for it.
Presented 06/17/2012 am
FATHER’s DAY to:
Needmore Baptist Church
1620 Needmore Rd.
Woodleaf, NC 27054
